Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“Wasn’t sure if you were a plant sent to get close to me. So I had you investigated. And put trackers on your car and your friends cars.”
He did what?
“Now I know that you’re really just naive . . . and sweet. And I have to go.”
“Go? Go where? What about me? What about Lauren?”
“Your hero is coming. And who cares about that bitch? She’s unconscious. Can’t hurt you.”
“Is she alive?”
Dev sighed and walked over to the driver’s side of the car. He opened the door and she saw Lauren’s arm drop out.
“Yep. She’s got a pulse.”
“Okay. Good.”
He walked toward his truck. Well, not his truck.
The truck he’d stolen.
That was still hard to wrap her head around.
“Wait! You’re really leaving?” she cried. He couldn’t leave her here in the dark with her kidnapper.
“Yep.”
“Can’t you stay for a bit longer?” she asked.
“Nope.” Then he suddenly turned and walked back toward her.
Oh good. She knew he wouldn’t leave her.
Actually, she hadn’t known that at all.
She’d just really, really hoped he wouldn’t leave her.
“Cream.” He held out his hand.
“S-sorry?”
“Couldn’t take it before. Unbalanced. Now, I can. Payment. Cream.”
She gaped at him. “In my . . . my handbag. I think she must have left it behind.” She’d had it when she was hit.
“Nah, dumb bitch grabbed it.”
“Why dumb?”
“Because that’s how they’re likely tracking you. Through your phone.”
Oh.
Wait. Who was tracking her? But he was gone. He searched through the car, found her handbag, then brought it back to her, setting it down at her side. “Three minutes.”
“Wait, Dev!” she cried out as he turned away.
“What?”
“I just . . . thank you.”
He grunted. “Be careful, girl. The Devil doesn’t usually give out favors without payment. You’re lucky you had this.” He held up the tube of cream.
Oh, she was so confused. Was he referring to himself as the Devil?
Well, Dev. Devil.
Yikes.
Now she was losing it. She watched him drive off and reached for her handbag, pulling it open so she could grab her phone.
She had to admit that Dev was kind of right. Lauren had been stupid to bring her phone with them. Isaiah would easily be able to track her.
She had to call Jenner. Or Tobias.
God.
Even now, she didn’t know who to call. What was she going to do? This was awful.
Maybe you should call Abe.
Before she could manage to work her phone, she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
Someone walked out of the trees. Someone dressed all in black who looked like a freaking shadow.
Shadow of death.
Why would she think that? What was wrong with her?
The man ignored her but he walked over to where the driver’s door was open and Lauren was slumped over the steering wheel.
Immy hadn’t forgotten about her. She was going to call her an ambulance.
Eventually.
But now she watched in horror as the man raised his arm. It was difficult to make out all the details, but she was certain that she heard a soft ping.
A whimper escaped her.
What fresh horror was this? Had he just shot her? Was that a silencer? Was Lauren . . . dead? And who the heck was this guy?
The person was silent and then they turned to Immy.
She could barely see them. She couldn’t even tell what color hair they had or what their skin looked like.
Definitely the shadow of death.
Another whimper.
Immy knew she was about to die. Why hadn’t Dev stayed?
Because he thought you would be safe. Who knew there was going to be someone else?
But . . . could this be the person that Lauren was talking about? The one she was taking Immy to? It didn’t make any sense, though. Why would he kill Lauren if he was working with her?
And why did she have this weird feeling? Almost like she . . . she knew them?
Don’t be stupid, Immy.
“I don’t know who you are, but you don’t have to do this,” she told them. “I haven’t seen your face. I don’t know who you are. Please, please, don’t kill me.”
The man took a step toward her. Was it a man?
God. She just wasn’t sure. They had on baggy clothes and they were tall. With broad shoulders.
It had to be a man, right?
What does it matter, Immy? They’re about to kill you.
Suddenly, headlights filled the area and the sound of a truck hit her ears. She didn’t know how she hadn’t heard it approach before now. It was almost silent out here. She closed her eyes, certain that the shadow of death would still kill her.
But when there was no pain, she slowly opened them, staring at the space where he had been.
Where there was now nothing.
“Immy!”
She turned at the cry, seeing Sampson jumping out of the driver’s side of the truck. But he was behind Jenner and Tobias, who had already reached her.
Another sob broke out of her and she winced in pain.